What is NLP?

Neuro Linguistic programme is the study of how you think, speak and behave. Having said that, you may want to know how that would help? Well, the answer is simple, the outcome or result which you are currently getting in life is because of how you think, speak and behave. Now if you are looking to study "How you are getting what you are getting' that is a good place to begin. As the wise man once said "To change your outcome it is important that you change your thinking" Easier said than done. But how do I know how I think? Here is a video that you might want to watch about What is NLP?

The core of NLP is modelling the excellence of successful people. Modelling at a deeper level to understand how they run strategies can help replicate successful business models leading to individuals being resourceful all the time. In other words, it is a process of studying the structure of subjective experience, particularly the structure of excellence. It is the study of what you currently are like and how well you do what you do. This is the essence of NLP.

It is a process of understanding our own selves by observing and understanding the world around us (or vice versa), with a new set of very successful tools and techniques, evolved in the world of NLP by experts.

The name Neuro Linguistic Programming originated in California and was developed in 1975 by two Americans, Richard Bandler and John Grinder, whose interest lays in how they could reproduce the excellence of people whose performance they admired. It refers to the elements that make up the process of modelling.

Neuro refers to the thinking patterns that make up the mental aspect of our strategies. We take information in and hold it in our minds in visual, auditory and kinesthetic (feeling) ways. For example a part of a strategy to feel confident at the start of giving a presentation might be to see ourselves as in a movie, in full colour, doing the presentation in a way that we would ideally like to do it. We might hear an encouraging internal voice urging us to do well. We might imagine the smooth feel of the table that is beside us as we stand and the steady confident feeling in our stomach as we begin to speak.

Linguistic refers to the way we use language both inwardly to ourselves (our inner dialogue) and the language we use in conversation with others. With NLP, we can become aware of the patterns in our own and others language and the effect of these patterns on both ourselves and others. For example, even if you ask someone 'why not' when they say they can't do something, they become even more resistant to the idea of doing it. A more effective question might be 'What would happen if you did this?'

Programming: The programmes that we run are our strategies for getting results in all areas of our life and work. Sometimes those results are what we want whereas at other times they do not seem to meet any conscious need. We are like computers, in that; we have mental and behavioural codes for running our lives. Sometimes the codes work well and sometimes they have 'bugs' and instead of achieving the results we want, we sabotage our seemingly desired success. Sometimes we have the codes but we use them inappropriately. For example, you might be perceived as stubborn in the way that you hang on to a point of view when it would be better to let go. What you could do would be to use that same structure to tenaciously hold on to your goals when faced with disappointment. Stubbornness can be tenacity when used appropriately. NLP is a means of tapping into the wealth of resources that we all have within to support us in achieving what we really want, says Sue Knight in her book, NLP at Work.

Today NLP is described as

A Collection of Communication skills

A series of sales techniques

A way of questioning that allows you to uncover information that is missing, unconscious or hidden, so that you can understand a communication fully

A set of beliefs that allows humans to grow

A collection of skills for influencing people while maintaining your integrity and respecting theirs

A way to build stronger, more enjoyable relationships

A detailed understanding of how people learn and how to teach them.

NLP will enable you to

Do whatever you already do reasonably well and even better

Acquire skills and attitudes to do what you cannot do right now, but would like to be able to do

Communicate more effectively with others

Think more clearly

Manage your thoughts, moods and behaviours more effectively.

How would NLP help?

In today's world of constant rapid change, where we need to learn continuously at a pace that the world has never seen before, NLP Skills come in handy for a learning organisation to keep its members with increased flexibility in handling change inside and outside, in a way to truly learn and lead the change.

General Applications:

NLP has already helped millions of people all over the world to overcome fears, increase confidence, enrich relationships and achieve greater success. NLP has helped thousands of organizations, both large and small, to improve bottom-line results by empowering employees with effective mental resources to consistently perform at peak levels.

Here is what some of them have to say about NLP…

"Neuro Linguistic Programming is the Most Powerful Vehicle for Change in the 21st Century!"— Modern Psychology

"A New Standard for Psychology."—Psychology Today

"NLP helps me to manage audiences and motivate them. It is just amazing."—Oprah Winfrey, the No. 1 talk show host in the world.

"I built my sales career from zero to become the world's best motivator by using NLP"—Anthony Robbins, the best-known success coach in the World.

"NLP produces results and improves rapport. I want all my staff to attend the training."—James Olson, former chairman, ATandT

"NLP is one of the biggest breakthroughs in the technology of achievement and human excellence."—Time Magazine

"NLP could be the most important synthesis of knowledge about human communication to emerge since the explosion of Humanistic Psychology in the sixties."—Science Digest

What are the different levels of training in NLP?

Primarily the following

- NLP Foundation TrainingFor whom: Fresher and first timers who are curious to know what NLP is for them and how they will benefit.Details: A certification program, some call this level as a Diploma program. They are held for 2 days and is an independent program of all the programs. For people who are wanting to explore and experience NLP, this should be the first step. It is worth your time and money and generally conducted over the weekend. You also get to know the trainer, his training style and what all can you expect as you take your journey forward to the Practitioner level.

- NLP Business Practitioner & NLP Practitioner TrainingFor Whom: Fresher and first timers who have done some research on their own, holding the desire to change their part of the world and achieve their goals.
For all those who are willing to let go of their self-limiting beliefs and embrace empowering beliefs and much more. A great place to be!!!Details:Generally a 6 to 8 day's workshop where you get to not only learn but also experience NLP in depth. If you are serious in learning NLP course, this where you begin. It is the place to learn the building blocks of NLP. The aim of this training is to help you realise how you act and think. Being aware of this helps you change your thinking, remove limiting beliefs and achieve success. You will learn various techniques and tools you can use on a daily basis to eradicate limited thinking to produce better results, helping you achieve your goals in your life and at work. This course not only helps you gain knowledge, but also, you learn to practice the tools in a way that can be transfer to others as well. There is a lot of coaching you will experience and in a way that you will be able to support others, by understanding them better, helping them grow and hence performing at a higher level. Both Adults & Children. And in my experience transformational.

- NLP Master PractitionerFor Whom: Those who are certified as a "NLP Practitioner / NLP Business Practitioner from reputed trainers. Details: The core of NLP Is modelling excellence and you get to learn the science of modelling here. You commit to 8 to 10 days of classroom learning.
Post which at your convenience you go on to develop a project of your own in modelling excellence. You will have our full support to do this over email, Skype and we recommend you complete your project in less than 3 months. On acceptance of your "project", you are certified as a Master Practitioner which means that you are one who knows how to model excellence, how to study the structure of subjective experience. So a very high level of commitment is a must from the participants at this level.

- NLP Trainer TrainingFor Whom: This level is for anyone who is interested in teaching, facilitating, transforming the world. The criteria being that you are a certified Master Practitioner.Details: In my personal experience, this level goes beyond the traditional barricade of just become an NLP Trainer. Well, that is optional when you are looking to certified others. Additionally if you are a manager, a leader where you wanting to teach your team to model excellence then this is the right place to be. I have seen in the corporate world manager saying "look at x.. how is he getting the desired result...learn from him how to do it..." By learning NLP at this level you actually learn to train your team how to identify, study and model that success, that excellence. At this level, you are preparing for a journey... a journey of designing experience to the world.